Wanted a new under hood light

[CodaMan]

Damn that under hood light sucks. I tried just replacing the bulb with an LED bulb, but the lens and the location are just not right, so let's make something better.

I purchased a 12" LED strip off eBay, it came with a switch, but I decided not to use it. Since I like the K.I.S.S. method of doing things, and I like the way the stock gravity switch works ... let's just use it.

I popped the lens cover off and removed the bulb. I added terminal lugs to the LED strip's wires and connected them to the contacts in the stock switch and popped the lens cover back on.

I routed the wires through the hood, removed the backing from the 3M adhesive strip that was included with the LED strip and stuck it to the hood ... and Wa-Lah ... LIGHT!

Took all of 30 minutes and $15.

Now I could actually do some work under there in the dark if I needed to.

 

[BendLarry]

Good solution, I agree the stock light is a joke.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CodaMan]

That picture is in a dark garage with no camera flash.

 

[Kiwi TJ]

Wow that's like Magic !!!! :clap: I think an 'unlit' candle produces more light that the stock TJ under hood light lol

The simplest solutions are generally the best, plus nobody wants to be stuck on the side of the road at night not being able to see anything under there.

 

[BendLarry]

That picture is in a dark garage with no camera flash.

Another advantage of your solution, is that a rough road won’t make that stupid heavy bullet bulb fall out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Squatch]

Those under-hood lights are so bad, it actually gets darker when they come on...

 

[egclassic]

Damn that under hood light sucks. I tried just replacing the bulb with an LED bulb, but the lens and the location are just not right, so let's make something better.

I purchased a 12" LED strip off eBay, it came with a switch, but I decided not to use it. Since I like the K.I.S.S. method of doing things, and I like the way the stock gravity switch works ... let's just use it.

I popped the lens cover off and removed the bulb. I added terminal lugs to the LED strip's wires and connected them to the contacts in the stock switch and popped the lens cover back on.

View attachment 27276

I routed the wires through the hood, removed the backing from the 3M adhesive strip that was included with the LED strip and stuck it to the hood ... and Wa-Lah ... LIGHT!

View attachment 27277

Took all of 30 minutes and $15.

Now I could actually do some work under there in the dark if I needed to.

Exactly what I did to mine, except I did use the switch, I drilled the factory lens cover and installed it into it. Looks and works great.

 

[lowranger]

Great idea! I need to do that to mine.
CodaMan, can you take another picture in the daylight on how and where you ran the wires and where you attached the light strip. And maybe a link to where you did get the light?

 

[CodaMan]

Great idea! I need to do that to mine.
CodaMan, can you take another picture in the daylight on how and where you ran the wires and where you attached the light strip. And maybe a link to where you did get the light?

A link to the light is in the first post and I'll take another pic today.

 

[lowranger]

A link to the light is in the first post and I'll take another pic today.

Oh.....I didn't notice the link, thanks I'll go check it out.
And thanks in advance for the other picture.

 

[CodaMan]

The LED strip is stuck to the hood brace and the wires are run through it. I may add another one on the right side of the brace just for the hell of it.

 

[Chief1942]

A question. Do you foresee any issues down the road with the method of attachment of the LED light bar? I do quite a bit of bouncing around in the backcountry and ANYTHING that is not very well secured WILL come off/apart. As you might imagine, I'm not that confident in sticky back tape. I do appreciate that many of them are getting better and better through chemistry, but I would be concerned. Looking at your installation, if I were to place it right down the middle of the hood brace, I could use nylon zip ties as added insurance. Do you think that could be a problem?

 

[TJ4Jim]

This is what I use, With the magnetic mount the light can be extended all around the Jeep and retracted.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5337789113&icep_item=152826064299

 

[CodaMan]

A question. Do you foresee any issues down the road with the method of attachment of the LED light bar? I do quite a bit of bouncing around in the backcountry and ANYTHING that is not very well secured WILL come off/apart. As you might imagine, I'm not that confident in sticky back tape. I do appreciate that many of them are getting better and better through chemistry, but I would be concerned. Looking at your installation, if I were to place it right down the middle of the hood brace, I could use nylon zip ties as added insurance. Do you think that could be a problem?

It's possible. That tape was SUPER sticky but I'll just keep an eye on it and if it becomes a problem I find an alternate way to secure it.

 

[lowranger]

Thanks for the picture!

 

[Chief1942]

Thanks Coda. I think there is a new under hood light in my TJR's future.

 

[Kevin Johnston]

That looks plenty bright! If you ever wander the salvage yards look out for 90s era Chevy/GMC pickups and grab the retractable underhood light. Its got a magnetic base and enough cord to just about wrap around a TJ. It's great for everything else that's not under the hood.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Squatch]

That looks plenty bright! If you ever wander the salvage yards look out for 90s era Chevy/GMC pickups and grab the retractable underhood light. Its got a magnetic base and enough cord to just about wrap around a TJ. It's great for everything else that's not under the hood.View attachment 27311View attachment 27312

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Same for the Dodge pick-ups, at least up until '93. My '90 has one. Has helped me out a number of times...

 

[PCO6]

That looks plenty bright! If you ever wander the salvage yards look out for 90s era Chevy/GMC pickups and grab the retractable underhood light. Its got a magnetic base and enough cord to just about wrap around a TJ. It's great for everything else that's not under the hood.View attachment 27311View attachment 27312

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I have a similar one on my '88 Jeep Cherokee. It's original but you don't see a lot of them.

... Internet pic. Mine doesn't work ... yet! lol

 

[Phil Younger]

That looks plenty bright! If you ever wander the salvage yards look out for 90s era Chevy/GMC pickups and grab the retractable underhood light. Its got a magnetic base and enough cord to just about wrap around a TJ. It's great for everything else that's not under the hood.View attachment 27311View attachment 27312

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I had one of those on my '96 3/4 ton Chev.- best thing on the truck and I was really tempted to strip it off when I sold it.